Fifth wheel locking means



P 1952 R. A. BlAUNBERGER 2,610,862.

FIFTH WHEEL LOCKING MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet l 8 32 5%1&

INVEN'I'OR.

FIG. 3 RAYABRAUNBERGER fl o /l TTOR NE Y Sept. 16, 1952 BRAUNBERGER2,610,862

FIFTH WHEEL LOCKING MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l NV E N701?. RML AB amuaaaszn ama ATTORNEY Sept. 16, 1952 R. A. BRAUNBERGER2,610,862

FIFTH WHEEL LOCKING MEANS Filed Nov. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 as as l40 1 a5 38 44 5 46 42 54 I I 3A- 55 5'! 27 FIG. 7

l Y f 25 M 35 4O GI llll Fxeb l NIE N'I'OR. Rnnfifikmnseasea 11 TTQR NEY p 1952 R. A. BRAUNBERGER 2,610,862

FIFTH WHEEL LOCKING MEANS Filed NOV. 17, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4INI'EN'I'OR. RACABRAUNBERCER Patented Sept. 16, 1952 UNITED STATESPATENT car es j I j 2,610,862 V V Q FIFTH WHEEL LOCKINGME'ANS I IBraunherger, Chicago, I11. I Application-November 17, 1948, Serial No.60,575

The. invention relates to, an improved fifth wheel for coupling tractorsto send-tra ler When a tractor carryi ea firth. wheel. assembly isbacked under the front end ofa semi-trailer the king pin projecting downfrom the under. side of the semi-trailer forcibly aligns the .front endof the semi-trailer and thecenter line of the tractor and when the kinpin reaohescoupling. position the parts of the fifth wheel ar su jectedtosevere shock.

.Once the king pin has. rea h dthe centerof' the firth wheel it mustbepo ivelvl k d a ins release, The entire pull of the tracto ntiretrailermust be transmitted through this look. I must remain denendablvlocked despite jo t and.

sidesway V r i ,The loclrm s. not only prevent the kin pin. from.movinghorizontally outrof place but. als from jumping vertica ly outoite t p p at Kine p ns-have necks adapted to be n a ed y an elementcarried b th -fifth wh l- T i p events rela ive vertical movement-oi t np n and the-fifth wheel. To permit interchangeability tractors and s mra ler thepr por ions oi the king pins. have become. standardized in;the industry- As e. loads c rried by the semitrailers have continuallybecome larger the movable neck-encircling locki elements generallyusedhave to be increased in size. With the distance of they neck of; theking pinjbelow the top of thefifth wheel plate fixed by king pinsstandardizediin he in us ry. t has; become difiicult to provide for th se em nt w h the e k withouta machined top plate and-a housing sep:

arate from that top plate. but attached to. itby bolts or the like,thus; sacrificing the ruggedness inherent in an integ alc t na Theinvention-permits using a housing integral Withthe cast top platebecause the front half of the neck: of the kine' p nis enga d y abzontal flange cast integral Withihe top plate and the rear half of thehead of the king pin is engaged by locking mechanism moving in avertioalane The parts of the lo i hanis may be; made heavier if neededwithoutbeinglimited byithe standardized width of the neck. H

Although the o k resists ".remend s orc s. i must be releasable withoutundue effort by the truck operator. This release mechanism permits thetruck driver to move. a lever on the filth wheel confident that the lockwill remain in're leasing position while he mounts intoth -cab, and thetractor pulls out from under thesemi trailer. When the tractor backsunder a semi trailer, the lock should snapv into looked 1105i:-

' jii'claims- (o1. zed-33.05)

hon... nithertoit-has bee 'neoe to res the release mechanism after t tct r ha ba out from under the semi-trailer so that it will be ready tosnap into locked position when the tractor backs under thene ti-Thopinvention, provides automatic resetting means, so that aftergtheoperator releases the latch to allow the tractor to draw out from underthe. load the .partsremai n a in position until the k n p isclea of e lok bu i clearing the king pin automatically resets therelease mechanismsothat when the tractor backs under, another semi-trailer, and the kingpin enters the looking meehanism, it will snap into locked positionwithout any preliminary setting by. the dr v Qneq the objects of theinvention is-to makea fifth wheel construction that is simple andrugged, well adapted to absorb shocks permitting a singlecasting for thefifthwheel plate and the housing for-,thelocking mechanism to replace alarge number of parts bolted together.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a Wheel plate having anintegralwell containing' locking mechanism that moves in avertical planeto engagethe head of the king pin and to hold its neclg against ahorizontal flange cast as part of the fifth wheelplateg 'Anotherobjectof the invention is to arrange the locking mechanism so that it ishoused in a narrow well onthe underside of the fifth wheel plate-whichpermits supporting the lock parts on relatively shortshafts supported onbothends.

Another object is to lock the pin in position loy a rocker armthatbearsagainst the end fiange of the pin rather than its neck. 7 I

,,still another object of the invention is to pro vide a, locking devicewhich includes a rocker arm movablein a-vertical plane, the engagementoi the fingeron the forward end of the rocker arm by the king pin movingthe claw on the other end o h r ke rmi r ee heri a h sin, and alsollowina p wiriv ne o zontal; axis to fall in under the rocker arrn, preventing it fromv unlocking. I g g Another object of the invention is toprovidea latcheleasingmechanism that moves the pawl out from inder therocker arm and holds it out from under. p} M e V Still another objectis'to provide a self resetting re easing m ans; which p rm t ov hathepawl out f om und e ro ke to a pos onawhereit is' el by a latch-. hislatch is re easedhrthe rocker arm-when it haspeen rocked to a posi-:

tionthat prevents a spring from drawing a pawl back under the rockerarm, so that when the tractor is again backed under a semi-trailercausing the rocker arm to move to locking position the pawl will bedrawn in under the rocker arm to hold it locked without any furtherattention by the operator.

A further object is to provide a fifth wheel having a plate that ismovable about two axes at right angles for each other-movement of oneaxis being checked by springs, and a manually actuated latch.

Fig. l is a plan view of a fifth-wheel assembly incorporating theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view elevation of the same assembly.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same assembly.

Fig. 4 is a view of the underside of the top plate and parts attachedthereto taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken along line 55 in Fig. 1, drawn to anenlarged scale. Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8 are all drawn to the sameenlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the chamber on the under side of the topplate taken along line 66 of Fig. 1, also drawn to an enlarged scale.

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken essentially along the same plane asFig. 5 but showing the parts latched in unlocking position which permitsthe tractor to which the fifth wheel is attached backing out from underthe semi-trailer.

Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation similar to Fig. 7 showing the king pinabout to engage the lock which has been readied for engagement.

Fig. 9 is a plane view along line 9-9 of Fig. 2 showing the partssupporting the fifth wheel plate shown in Fig. 1 and is drawn to thesame scale.

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the parts shown on Fig. 9, a portion of theparts having been cut away along line III-I in Fig. 9. 1 Fig. 11 is anend elevation partly in section taken along line I II I in Fig. 9.

I is a cast base plate adapted to be attached to the chassis of atractor (not shown) by fastenings extending through holes 2.

This base plate is reinforced by a number of cast ribs, two of which, 3,form a box-section that extends crosswise of the tractor chassis. Bosses4 are cast on the plate and a short shaft extends through these twobosses. Circular rims 6 cast on base plate I in the box section betweenthe ribs 3 serve to locate heavy coil springs I.

Another boss 8 located at one end of one of the ribs 3 is bored forlocking pin I0 having a conical head. This pin has a threaded stem II,engaging a thread in the boss and a knob I2. By turning the knob I2 theconical head of pin may be drawn back into the bore or made to projectfrom the boss. p

A sway member, generally indicated at I3, is adapted to be supported onshaft 5 with its ends free to rock up and down in the box sectionbetween ribs 3. The upper horizontal portion I4 of'the sway membercontains circular pockets I5 to locate the other ends of springs 1.Flanges I6 extend downward from each edge of portion I4. A conical holeI! in one of these flanges I'B may be engaged by the conical head of thepin I0 when knob I2 is turned to project the pin III out from the boss8. Thus the sway member may be allowed to rock about shaft 5, its motioncushioned by the compression of springs 1, or it may be held rigidrelatively to base plate I. The

' plate.

upwardly projecting ends I8 of the sway arm are bored at to support thetop plate generally indicated at 2 I.

The top plate has a plane top surface 22, generally circular as shown onFig. 1 with a slot extending from one side to past the center of theplate. The outer edges 23 of this slot flare, and adjacent to the outerends of the slot, the top surface slopes downward to formhorns 24. Asshown in Fig. 4, a flange 25 extends along the outer edges of the topplate. The flanges 26 extend along the outer edges of the slot in thetop A web 21 extends across the ends of these flanges as they approachthe center of the top plate, forming a compact box-like housing 28 onthe under side of the top plate.

This housing is further braced by ribs 30. Four flanges 3| depend fromthe top plate. Pins 32 extend thru each pair of flanges 3I. These pinswhich pass thru holes 20 in the sway bar I3 support the top plate in amanner permitting universal adjustment for that plate. This results fromthe freedom of the top plate to swing about two axes normal to eachothershafts 5 and 32 forming these axes.

The sides of the box like housing are bored to two parallel shafts 33,34,

The'purpose of the universally adjustable top plate and its slot withflaring ends is to guide the king pin 35 depending from the sole plate36 of a semi-trailer to the the center of the top plate in line withshafts 32. The king pins of all semitrailers have heads 3'! and a neck38, the neck 38 always being a fixed distance below the plate 36. Asemi-circular horizontally projecting flange 40 cast in the housing 28engages the neck 38 of the king pin preventing it from being joltedvertically out of engagement with the top plate.

Flange 40, being integral with the top plate can transmit a largerupward pull than if it were not integraL- Shaft 34 lies below the kingpin when it-is in its engaged position and this shaft carries a rockerarm generally indicated at 4I. This rocker arm has finger 42 which isengaged by the head of the king pin to tilt the rocker arm into lockedposition shown in Fig. 5. The rocker arm carriesa claw 43 shaped to bearagainst a substantial part of the head of the king pin. The weight ofthe claw 43 biases the rocker arm to the position shown in Fig. 8. Whenthe rocker arm; is in the position shown in Fig. 5 it will prevent theking pin and the top plate of the fifth wheel being separated by eitherhorizontal or vertical movement. As pointed out, the flange 40 engagingthe neck of the king pin has already prevented vertical separation.There is a dellnite advantage having the claw bear against the head,rather than the neck of the king pin. The diameter of king pins arestandardized but as the load carried by semi-trailers increases the head31 could be made larger.

While a lock that enters into the neck of the pin is limitedin strengthby the section which this permits, the rock arm'4I may becorrespondingly increased in strength. The claw 43 has a convexcylindrical surface 44 whose axis is that of pin 34, and a concavecylindrical surface whose axis 'is that of shaft 33 when the parts arein the position shown in Fig. 5. The rocker arm has a projection 45 anda laterally projecting finger 46. A pawl 47 keyed to shaft 33 is shapedto bear against the convex surface 45 when the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 5. Examinations of the figures will show that an unusuallyrigid striic'turehas been provided in which the entire pull ofthetractor: is'transmittedto the: closely spaced wallsof the housing2B,.and. from there thru the short shaft 33'and thence'thru pawl 4:1andclaw 43 to the headof the kingpin. The two shafts 33. and 34, thepawl 41 and the rocker arm M, are all the partsthat transmit the pull tothe head of the king pin-when the parts are inv the locked positionshown in Fig.5. J

An arm 5ll'having a hub 5| which has a cam surface '52- that "hasera-dial: step 53.is keyed to the outer-endo'f shaft" 33. Iheshaft.-33=.a.nd the pawl carried thereby have three operative positions.One is thelaad-transmitting posi-' ti-on'with the king pin'locke'd,shown in Fig. .5; where the pawl is under the" rock-er arm. Another isthe ready to fall in position shown in Fig. 8 when the pawl-lies againstconvex surface '44 of the claw ready 'to-fall into the position shown'inFig. 5 as soon asthe claw'is elevated. The third position is -'theready-to-release positionshown in Fig. 7- when the pawl is held over tothe left and is out of contact with the rocker arm. This is preparatoryto the disen gagement of the king pin. v

' The shaft 33-jis held in this third position by a lever 54 pivoted at55 in the outside (if-"housin 26. This lever carries atail 56 havingafi'nger 51 that projects through a slot in'the housing 28 into the pathof finger 46. I InFig. 8 the king pin standsstill While the fifth wheelmoves tothe right in disengagin'g.-- It will be evident that when thetractor has carried the fifth wheel away from the king pm,- the' weightof claw 43 causes the rocker; arm to tilt? until projection 45 hearsagainstthfbottom of the housing as 'shownin Fig. 8. When inthis positionthe finger 46 has engaged finger 51 and elevated the other end of thelever 54so that the tooth 58 is outof contact with the face 53' ofthecam52. i When the trailer is to be uncoupled; the driver seizeshandle '62 and slides it along slot 64 a clockwise'direction as seen inFig. 4. This movement stresses the sp'rin-gfifi andmoves the rod 60 tothe left in Figs. 4', 6,17; 8. [The rod 60 rocks the arm 50 which is.key-ed to'the shaft 3'3Tcounterc1ockwise inFigs. Br t-and- 8.; Thismovement of the shaft 33 carriesth'e cam surface 52 which is keyed to itthrough the positionshown '7, where'the lever 54 has droppedjsothat inFig.

'the tooth 58 engages the'f'ace'53 of the camsur face. This holds thepawl -4'l'in theposition shown in Fig. 7. When the tractor now movesforwardthe kingpinj35gattached to the stationary semi-trailer strikesthe'elaw 43 of the rocker arm 4i depressing itinto the position shown'in Fig.8. As therocker arm 4| isdepressedpitprevents thepawl 41 fromreturning even if the lever 5'4 is elevated. ;Thef rocker arm 4| carriesa finger "46 which engages a projection 45 on j the rear end of thepivoted "lever :54 and lifts-the tooth 58-0111; of contactwithjtheb-ase' 5'3. The spring SB -Whic'h has previously'been stresseddraws the pawl againstthe face 44 of therocker'arm 4| ready for thelocking operation.

When the semi-trailer is recoupled, the kingpin 35 sliding into' placestrikes the forward finger '42 of the'ro-cker arm '41 and this elevatesthe claw back into theposition shown- -in-Fig. 7. The spring 66 nowdraws the pawl 4-1 in under the claw and the fifth wheel i's' inlocked'position. i

The arm-50 is connected to a fork by a pin at-the'end-of the connectingrod'tuand-another 6 fork on rod 60 .connectsiwitharm 6i ofithelever 62.pivoted at 63to the under :side'of' the. top plate. :Le'ver E2 is guidedin a slot 64 inthe downwardly extending flange 25 ofrthe top plate: Theen'dof arm 6| carries a hook 65. A: stifl tension spring 66 anchored atits ends to hook. GSan-d'hook 61 in-the flange 25 tends topullthe lever'62' into the ipos-i'tionshownin Fig. 4: and-to turn the shaft3ilc1ockwisein .Figures'5, '6 "l; .aindl8 i .1. Q I; -Iti will -beevident that: if the tractor is drawe ing' a semi-trailer and: theefifthwheeli and the king pin are in the" position 'shown' in.-Figure* 5 andthe" driver wishes to disengage the semitrailerhe stops and draws thelever 62 clockwise in Fig. 4 stressing the spring and moving thespringactuated shaft 33 counter clockwise in: Fig. 'Hmtll the'tooth 58oflever '54 falls into position with face 53 holdingthe-parts' in theposition shown inp 'g zgpgg .2 .6339 1. .2 The driver remounts hiscab;moves the 'flfth wheel forward as seen in Fig;'7-past -the positionshown in Fig. 8. The weight of the claw causes it to descend as the headof the king pin allows finger 42 to move toward the left in Fig. 8. I

The finger 46 onthe rocker '-arm.enga'ges finger 5! on lever 54 anddisengagestooth 58-as shown in Fig. 8. The spring66 is-nowfree to rotateshaft 3'3 clockwise in Fig. -8' until the pawl bears against theconvexsurface'44 of the claw.- The parts are now preset for engagementby "another king pinandautomaticlocking.

' Considering the fifth wheel' moving to the =le'ft in Fig. 8, thekingpin willengage-fingerH tha claw 43 will rise into position as showninFigure 5 and the" stressed spring 66 nowhas the opper tunity'to swingthe pawl and-shaft clockwise as "'seen in Fig. 5' and the pawlmoves-under the rocker armholding it in locked position. The inventionis not limitedtothe hre'cls'e form here used for illustration and coverssuch embodiments as may suggest themselvesto those skilledinthe'art.vllli'ifl I'claim'f w l. A cast fifth wheel plate havingaahorizontalfiat top surface, a slot extending from one edge to the center'of theplate, an integrally'casthori zontal' lip "extending around thesemi-circular end of the slot, a'lock housing belowthe end of the slotintegrally cast with said plate,- paralll side walls in said housing,two horizontal 'studs supported in said walls, an arm pivoted: on-onestud,- 'a pawl *pivoted' on the other stud and adapted to 'bemoved intothe path ofsaid arm to hold-it'inits'elevated position. 2. A cast fifthwheel plate having-a horizontal flat top surface, a slot extendingfromone edge to the center-of .the platefa'n integrally-cast horizontallip extending around the'Semi-ci-rdular end of the slot, a lockhousingbelowthe endof the slot integrally cast with sa'id plate parallelside walls insaid housing; two horizontal studs supported in said walls,a sole plate adapted-to slideon the face plate, a circular kingpinextending downwardly from said sole 'plate an'd having an enlargedhead adapted to pass 'along said slot and under said lip, lockingmechanism supported on said studs including-a claw pivoted on one ofsaid studs which is adapted to move vertically after the head of theking pin-has passed under said lip to engage the rearpart of the headand'a pawl pivoted on the other -rh'ori zontal stud and adaptedto bemoved into the path of the claw to holdthe king pin'in-lipiengagingpositionxi t 1 .3 ..A fifth wheel coupling. comprising a downwardlyprojecting king pin attached to a semitrailer, a. cast plate supportedon a tractor,. a pocket having parallel "sides cast on the under side ofsaid plate, a slot in the plate leading the kingl pin into the pocketwhen coupling, an arm hinged-in the pocket'below the king pin andadapted to.swing upward behind the king pin, a'pawlhingedin the pocketadapted to fall under said arm when said arm has been elevated toprevent, theking pin passing outlof the pocket. :4. Afifthwheelcouplingcomprising,a down-' wardly; projecting king pinattached toa semi-, trailer, a head'on theking pin having an enlarged diameter,- ahorizontal cast plate supported on a tractor, a pocket having parallelsides cast, on the-:under side of said plate, a slot in the plateleading the kingpin intothe pocket when coupling, 9 horizontallyprojecting lip on the plate under which the head of said king pinprojects when it has reached the end of the slot, an arm hinged 'in'thepocketbelow the king pin and adapted to: swing upward behind the kingpin, a pawl hinged in the pocket adapted to fall under said arm whenthe. arm has been elevated to lock the king pin in the pocket.

5.*A fifth wheel coupling comprising a king pin, downwardly projectingfrom a sole plate attached to a semi-trailer, a cast plate supportingsaid sole plate. a pocket having parallel sides cast on the under sideof said plate, a slot in the plate leading the king pininto the pocketwhe coupling, ,a rocker arm hinged in the pocket in such a manner thatthe king pin entering the slot passes overthe rear end of the rocker armbut engages the forward end of the rocker arm to swing, the rear end ofthe rocker arm upward behind the king pinra pawl hinged in the pocketadapted to fallundersaid rocker arm when the rear-endhas beenelevatedthereby preventing the kingpin from passing out of the pocket.

,6. A fifth wheel coupling comprising a king pin projecting downwardfrom a sole plate attached to a semi-trailer, a cast plate supportingsaid sole plate, a pocket having parallel sides cast on the under sideof said sole plate, a slot inthe plate leading the king pin into thepocket when coupling, a rocker arm hinged in the pocket in a manner thatpermits the king pin entering the pocket to pass over the rear end ofthe rocker arm but engage the front end of the rocker arm to swing therear end of the rocker arm up behind the king pin, a pawl hinged in thepocket, a spring tendingto draw the pawl under the elevated rear end ofsaid rocker arm, manual meansfor moving the pawl against the springout'from under therocker arm, a latch holding the pawl out from-underthe rocker arm when the pawl has been thus moved manually.

'1. A fifth wheel coupling comprising a king pin projecting downwardfrom a sole plate attached to a semi-trailer, a cast plate supportingsaid sole plate, a pocket having parallel sides cast on the under sideof said sole plate, a slot in the plate leading the king pin into thepocket when coupling, a rocker arm hinged in the pocket in a manner thatpermits the king pin entering the pocket to pass over the rear end ofthe rocker arm but engage the front end of the rocker arm to swing therear end of the rocker arm up behind the king pin, a pawl hinged in thepocket, a spring tending to drawthe pawl under the elevated rear end ofsaid rocker arm, manual means for moving the pawl against the spring outfrom under the rocker arm, a latch holding the pawl out from undervthe.rocker arm when the pawl has been thus moved: manually, means fordisengaging said latchby the dropping of the rear end of the rockerarmrwhen the king pin moving out of the slot has lost contactwith theforward end of the rocker arm.

. 8. A fifth wheel coupling comprisingadownwardly projectingking pinattached to a semitrailer, a horizontal shaft supported on a tractor toextend crosswise thereon, a cast plate pivotally supportedv on saidhorizontal shaft, a pocket having parallel sides cast on theunder sideof said plate, a slotin the plategleading the king pin into the pocketwhencoupling an arm hinged in the pocket adapted to swing upward behindthe king pin, a shaft extending through the walls of, the pocket, a pawlwithin the pocket keyed to said shaft and adapted to be swung under thearm when it is elevated, alever outside the pocket keyed to said shaft,spring means attached to the under side of said plate tending to swingsaid pawl under the arm, manually operable means for moving saidpawlinto disengaged posi tion against said spring. i

9. A fifth wheel coupling comprising a downwardly projectingking pinattached to a semitrailer, a horizontal shaft supported on a tractor toextend crosswise thereon, a cast plate pivotally supported on saidhorizontal shaft, a pocket having parallel sides cast on the und er sideof said plate, a slot in the plate leading the king pin into the pocketwhen coupling, an arm hinged in thepockt adapted to swing upward behindtheking pin, a shaft extending thru'the walls of the pocket, a pawlwithin the pocket keyed to said shaft and adapted tov be swung under thearm when it is elevated, a'l'ever' outside the pocket keyed to saidshaft, spring. means at tached to the under side of said plate tendingto swing said pawl under the arm, manuallyoperable means for moving saidpawl into disengaged position against said spring, a lever pivoted onthe outside wall of the pocket, a surface movable with said shaftengaging said lever to prevent the spring fromdrawing the pawl backunder the arm after manual disengagement.

10. A fifth wheel coupling comprising a downwardly projecting king pinattached to a semitrailer, a horizontal shaft supported on a tractor toextendcrosswise thereon, a cast plate pivotally supportedon saidhorizontal shaft, a pockethaving paralle1 sides cast on the undersidofsaid plate, a slot in the plate leading'the king pin into thepocket when coupling, an arm hinged in the pocket adapted to swingupward behind the king pin, ashaft extendingfthrough thewalls of thepocket, a pawl'within the pocketfkeyedito said shaft and adapted to beswung under the arm when it is elevated, a lever outsidethe pocket keyedto said shaft,'spring means attached to the under side of' saidplate-tending to swing said pawl under the, arm man'ually operable'means for moving'said pawl into disengaged position against saidspring, a lever pivdt'ed on the outside wall of the pocket, a surfacemovablewith said shaftengaging said lever toprevent the spring fromdrawing the pawl back under the'arm after manual disengagement a slot inthe 'Wall of the pocket, means passingthrough the slot whereby therocker arm whentilted as the kingpin is disengaged may engage the leverto release the engagement of the lever with the shaft. 7

11. A casting having a flat face and a pocket having parallel walls onits under side, reinforcing ribs on theiun'der side of the castingradiating out from said pocket, two parallel shafts extending throughboth walls of the pocket, a rocker arm having upstanding ends free torock on one shaft, a pawl on the other shaft that can swing in under oneend of the rocker arm when that end has been elevated preventing therocker arm from rocking backward.

12. A casting having a flat face and a pocket having parallel walls onits under side, a slot xtending through the face from one edge of thecasting to a point over the pocket, two parallel shafts extendingthrough both walls of the pocket, a rocker arm having upstanding endsfree to rock on one shaft, a trailer plate supported on the cast plate,a king pin extending down from th plate adapted to slide along the slot,the forward end of the king pin passing over one end of the rocker armand engaging the other end of the rocker arm to rock the first named endupward behind the king pin, a pawl on the other shaft that can swing inunder one arm of the rocker arm when that arm has been elevatedpreventing the rocker arm from rocking backward and to free the kingpin.

13. A fifth wheel casting having a slot, parallel walls extending downfrom the plate, a king pin having a neck and a head, a flange on theendof the slot engaging the neck of the king pin to prevent the king pinfrom rising out of the slot, pins extending through the walls andlocated below the path of the king pin, a movable claw supported on oneof said pins which is raised to engage the rear side of the head of theking pin by the movement of the king pin into said slot, and a pawlsupported on the other one of said pins adapted to fall into positionunder the claw as it is elevated to form a strut transmitting thedrawbar pull from the casting thru the flange and said last named pinand the pawl and a portion of the claw to the head of the king pin.

14. A fifth wheel casting having a slot, parallel Walls extending downfrom the plate, a king pin having a neck and a headiaflange on the endof the slot engaging the neck of the king pin to prevent the king pinfrom rising out of the slot, two pins extending thru the wall andlocated below the path of the king pin, movable parts supported on saidside wall raised by the movement of the king pin into position to engagethe rear of the head of the king pin and forming a strut transmittingthe draw bar pull from the casting thru the flange and the parts formingthe strut to the head of the king pin, said movable parts comprising arocker arm pivoted on one pin and rocked by the king pin entering theslot into a position where it forms part of the strut which engages thehead of the king pin, and a pawl swinging on the other pin and having aconvex surface fitting into a concave portion of the under side of theelevated rocker arm to form the balance of the strut.

RAY A. BRAUNBERGER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,968,623 Swift July 31, 19342,096,282 Kortering Oct. 19, 1937 2,306,459 Mennen Dec. 29, 19422,336,939 Kinne Dec. 14, 1943 2,431,779 Stevens Dec. 2, 1947 2,438,323Miller Mar, 23, 1948 2,456,826 Fontaine et a1 Dec. 21, 1948 2,468,013Kayler Apr. 19, 1949

